Buying used lenses

[Penguin_101_1]

I am being offered a used 70-300mm f4-5.6 Quantaray. The only problem is that it has a small crack in the casing on the camera end. It dosn't effect the image quality, only the look of the lens. I will most likely be using it until I can make myself buy a better lens, and the camera store gets some in stock that I can try before buying. The guy at the store said that you should not buy anything with a crack in it. The sample pics I have seen are pretty good, but not great. I know it won't be the best quality. How much would you pay for it (Orig. Price is $200). Thanks!

BTW: This is a face to face deal so I will be able to see it in person before buying.

[Belmondo]

Ultimately, it boils down to whether it works or not. Having said that, I swtill have prejudices, and even if it works fine, it's a Quantarray. It's a marginal lens under the best of circumstances, and a crack, even if it's cosmetic only, would be a real problem for me. I doubt I'd pay more than $25 for something like that.

[Penguin_101_1]

Ultimately, it boils down to whether it works or not. Having said that, I swtill have prejudices, and even if it works fine, it's a Quantarray. It's a marginal lens under the best of circumstances, and a crack, even if it's cosmetic only, would be a real problem for me. I doubt I'd pay more than $25 for something like that.
I know that it isn't the best of lenses, but when I do get a good one (Sigma or Canon) I can give it to my dad which (like me) is frugal. Maybe that will motivate him to see the value in good glass. ;) Thanks! More opinions would be great.

[cecilc]

More opinions would be great.

I just saw in another thread where you cautioned someone about buying used lenses off e-bay with the words, "You get what you pay for." .....

:lol: And now I'm going to give you the same caution - if it was me, I'd stay away from this one ...... As has been pointed out, that lens is a marginal one anyway. You add a crack to that equation and that would be enough for me to say, "No thanks."

[Bruce Hamilton]

I know that it isn't the best of lenses, but when I do get a good one (Sigma or Canon) I can give it to my dad which (like me) is frugal.
Being frugal is a good thing, but scimping on the quality of your glass is not. Poor quality glass going on will result in poor quality photos coming out.

[Jon]

A Quantaray with a crack near the lens mount. Hmmmm. . .

Legendary Quantaray quality, which may be tolerable if you go into it with your eyes open.
Crack is an indication that it's been abused at some point so lens elements may be out of alignment, focussing and zoom mechanisms may have slipped.
Near the lens mount; are you sure the that the whole lens isn't out of alignment, and that the crack won't worsen with use, allowing the lens to fall off?
Run, don't walk, away from that bargain!

[RichardtheSane]

My vote goes with Tom

If any mor than $25-$35 is being asked for this lens then walk away.

It could fail at any time even if it works now.

Any idea how the crack happened?

[Penguin_101_1]

My vote goes with Tom

If any mor than $25-$35 is being asked for this lens then walk away.

It could fail at any time even if it works now.

Any idea how the crack happened?
Thanks for the replys. Do you think $20 would be a good price? He wanted $75 :o but said he would talk. I don't want to come off bad, but it is business, not personal.

[Jon]

I wouldn't pay even $20 for that, personally. You're the person taking the risk. He's not guaranteeing it is he? If it took an impact hard enough to crack the housing, there may be all kinds of damage hidden inside ranging from the aforementioned alignment problems to chipped lens elements and bits waiting to work loose. Plus it's an entry point for grit, dirt, etc. How long ago was it broken? New, it's only $170. KEH has an "Excellent Plus" Sigma 70-300 DL (probably very close to this, except this would be "Bargain" at best) for $84.

[Penguin_101_1]

I wouldn't pay even $20 for that, personally. Should I come out and tell him (in a small version) what was said in this thread?You're the person taking the risk. He's not guaranteeing it is he?No If it took an impact hard enough to crack the housing, there may be all kinds of damage hidden inside ranging from the aforementioned alignment problems to chipped lens elements and bits waiting to work loose. Plus it's an entry point for grit, dirt, etc. How long ago was it broken? Don't know?New, it's only $170. KEH has an "Excellent Plus" Sigma 70-300 DL (probably very close to this, except this would be "Bargain" at best) for $84.
My ?s/ answers in bold. Thanks

[Jon]

If you're concerned about the issues we've raised, by all means. Whether you choose to attribute them to people on this board, non-specific "friends", or your own concerns after thinking about it is pretty much your decision. If you don't know how long ago it was broken, and aren't going to walk away from it, that would be a very good thing to find out, also how it happened.

[planesh00ter]

I have bought 2 L lenses form Cameta, and they were well rated for what I got. Still 20% cheaper, or so is a personal decision for no warranty, no cool gray lens Bag that your daughter will take and no real Canon lens cap, which the planet earth will take.

[timmyquest]

If i may just add...i wouldnt pay 10 cents for that lens, no matter its condition.

[RichardtheSane]

Thanks for the replys. Do you think $20 would be a good price? He wanted $75 :o but said he would talk. I don't want to come off bad, but it is business, not personal.

$75 is way over. You could pick up a fully working one of ebay for not much more than that.

If you pay $20 you can get a lens that will get you to 300mm, so if you don't mind the fact it may fail (it may not, who knows?) then it is cheap. But before any exchange happens make sure it is fully working on your camera and focuses right.

it may just be enough to give you 300mm untill you can pick up the lens you want.

[ron chappel]

i think you should consider buying it.
Even at a little more than $20 it's a good cheap way to get into a long zoom that will give 'ok' image quality .Just use it untill you can aford something really good as you say

Several things though- Can you try it to see how sharp it is? That lens is made by sigma i think and there are some sigmas that have an horrific reputation for optical quality control...to the point of being totally unusable! (while others of the same model are really quite decent)

Check out where the crack is.If it's cosmetic don't worry about it.If it's in a structural part then you would be wise to forget about the deal

Good luck!

[Penguin_101_1]

Thanks for the replies! I will send him an e-mail right after I post this on how it happened and how long ago it happened. Here is a pic of the crack: http://tinypic.com/144sab

It does not bother the glass.

[Penguin_101_1]

Answer to e-mail:
Absolutely no idea -- it has spent its life on the camera or in the
camera bag, neither of which have ever been dropped or anything. As
for when it happened, I've had the lens for several years, and its
been there as long as I can remember. The only thing I can think of
is if it somehow happened while the lens was being shipped to the
store I bought it from, and just over time opened up.

[Penguin_101_1]

Bump - What should I offer for a price?

[eric1]

Bump - What should I offer for a price?
well Ritz wants $150 for this lens new. given the crack, and it being used, i wouldn't go more than $30 bucks. you don't know how long it will last. how much do you have to spend? if you searh hard enough, you can get a Canon or Sigma for a liitle over $100. if you need help finding one let me know, i always check the pawn shops all over the state when i'm traveling.

[Penguin_101_1]

well Ritz wants $150 for this lens new. given the crack, and it being used, i wouldn't go more than $30 bucks. you don't know how long it will last. how much do you have to spend? if you searh hard enough, you can get a Canon or Sigma for a liitle over $100. if you need help finding one let me know, i always check the pawn shops all over the state when i'm traveling.
This is just to hold me over until I choose which new lens I want. I don't want to spend a lot becuase everything I spend goes out of the new lens. (I want a Canon 70?-300 IS :D) Then I will turn around and sell the lens for the same price or just give it to my dad since he dosn't have a telephoto. This guy live instate so if I say "I'll take it, but if it dosn't focus right on my camera, then I get my $$ back. Thanks for the offer anyway. :)

[ron chappel]

That crack has absolutally zero ongoing effect on the lens.
The part is a small plastic shield that simply keeps dust out of the back of the lens.It should be cheap to replace but i see no reason to ever do so.It is trully harmless

Just test the lens for overall sharpness and if it is good grab it!

[Penguin_101_1]

That crack has absolutally zero ongoing effect on the lens.
The part is a small plastic shield that simply keeps dust out of the back of the lens.It should be cheap to replace but i see no reason to ever do so.It is trully harmless

Just test the lens for overall sharpness and if it is good grab it!
Suggestion on price?

[ron chappel]

If it's otherwise a reasonably sharp lens-anything up to a little below market value is good

Try to use the crack as a bargaining point of course;)